Give Me Liberty or Give Me Death
The Declaration of Independence
Happy Birthday America
As we celebrate the 224th Birthday of the United States of America, I thought
it would be a good idea to include some words from our country's past. So in
this newsletter I am including Patrick Henry's great speech on liberty, and our
Declaration of Independence. I don't know how many of you are familiar with
them, so it will do you good to look them over and get an idea of some of the
thoughts about God that our founding fathers had. If we as Christians would
stand up for real freedom and for what is right like the founders of this
nation, maybe we wouldn't be in the mess we are in now. Maybe we could see this
country turn around.
God Bless the USA.
Give Me Liberty Or Give Me Death
Patrick Henry, March 23, 1775.
No man thinks more highly than I do of the patriotism, as well as abilities, of
the very worthy gentlemen who have just addressed the House. But different men
often see the same subject in different lights; and, therefore, I hope it will
not be thought disrespectful to those gentlemen if, entertaining as I do opinions
of a character very opposite to theirs, I shall speak forth my sentiments freely
and without reserve. This is no time for ceremony. The questing before the House
is one of awful moment to this country. For my own part, I consider it as
nothing less than a question of freedom or slavery; and in proportion to the
magnitude of the subject ought to be the freedom of the debate. It is only in
this way that we can hope to arrive at truth, and fulfill the great
responsibility which we hold to God and our country. Should I keep back my opinions
at such a time, through fear of giving offense, I should consider myself as
guilty of treason towards my country, and of an act of disloyalty toward the
Majesty of Heaven, which I revere above all earthly kings.
Mr. President, it is natural to man to indulge in the illusions of hope. We are
apt to shut our eyes against a painful truth, and listen to the song of that
siren till she transforms us into beasts. Is this the part of wise men, engaged
in a great and arduous struggle for liberty? Are we disposed to be of the number
of those who, having eyes, see not, and, having ears, hear not, the things which
so nearly concern their temporal salvation? For my part, whatever anguish of
spirit it may cost, I am willing to know the whole truth; to know the worst, and
to provide for it.
I have but one lamp by which my feet are guided, and that is the lamp of
experience. I know of no way of judging of the future but by the past. And
judging by the past, I wish to know what there has been in the conduct of the
British ministry for the last ten years to justify those hopes with which
gentlemen have been pleased to solace themselves and the House. Is it that
insidious smile with which our petition has been lately received? Trust it not,
sir; it will prove a snare to your feet. Suffer not yourselves to be betrayed
with a kiss. Ask yourselves how this gracious reception of our petition comports
with those warlike preparations which cover our waters and darken our land. Are
fleets and armies necessary to a work
of love and reconciliation? Have we shown ourselves so unwilling to be
reconciled that force must be called in to win back our love? Let us not deceive
ourselves, sir. These are the implements of war and subjugation; the last
arguments to which kings resort. I ask gentlemen, sir, what means this martial
array, if its purpose be not to force us to submission? Can gentlemen assign any
other possible motive for it? Has Great Britain any enemy, in this quarter of
the world, to call for all this accumulation of navies and armies? No, sir, she
has none. They are meant for us: they can be meant for no other. They are sent
over to bind and rivet upon us those chains which the British ministry have been
so long forging. And what have we to oppose to them? Shall we try argument? Sir,
we have been trying that for the last ten years. Have we anything new to offer
upon the subject? Nothing. We have held the subject up in every light of which
it is capable; but it has been all in vain. Shall we resort to entreaty and
humble supplication? What terms shall we find which have not been already
exhausted? Let us not, I beseech you, sir, deceive ourselves. Sir, we have done
everything that could be done to avert the storm which is now coming on. We have
petitioned; we have remonstrated; we have supplicated; we have prostrated
ourselves before the throne, and have implored its interposition to arrest the
tyrannical hands of the ministry and Parliament. Our petitions have been
slighted; our remonstrances have produced additional violence and insult; our
supplications have been disregarded; and we have been spurned, with contempt,
from the foot of the throne! In vain, after these things, may we indulge the
fond hope of peace and reconciliation. There is no longer any room for hope. If
we wish to be free-- if we mean to preserve inviolate those inestimable
privileges for which we have been so long contending--if we mean not basely to
abandon the noble struggle in which we have been so long engaged, and which we
have pledged ourselves never to abandon until the glorious object of our contest
shall be obtained--we must fight! I repeat it, sir, we must fight! An appeal to
arms and to the God of hosts is all that is left us!
They tell us, sir, that we are weak; unable to cope with so formidable an
adversary. But when shall we be stronger? Will it be the next week, or the next
year? Will it be when we are totally disarmed, and when a British guard shall be
stationed in every house? Shall we gather strength by irresolution and inaction?
Shall we acquire the means of effectual resistance by lying supinely on our
backs and hugging the delusive phantom of hope, until our enemies shall have
bound us hand and foot? Sir, we are not weak if we make a proper use of those
means which the God of nature hath placed in our power. The millions of people,
armed in the holy cause of liberty, and in such a country as that which we
possess, are invincible by any force which our enemy can send against us.
Besides, sir, we shall not fight our battles alone. There is a just God who
presides over the destinies of nations, and who will raise up friends to fight
our battles for us. The battle, sir, is not to the strong alone; it is to the
vigilant, the active, the brave. Besides, sir, we have no election. If we were
base enough to desire it, it is now too late to retire from the contest. There
is no retreat but in submission and slavery! Our chains are forged! Their
clanking may be heard on the plains of Boston! The war is inevitable--and let it
come! I repeat it, sir, let it come.
It is in vain, sir, to extenuate the matter. Gentlemen may cry, Peace, Peace--
but there is no peace. The war is actually begun! The next gale that sweeps from
the north will bring to our ears the clash of resounding arms! Our brethren are
already in the field! Why stand we here idle? What is it that gentlemen wish?
What would they have? Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at
the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it, Almighty God! I know not what course
others may take; but as for me, give me liberty or give me death!
The Declaration of Independence of The
United States of America
When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to
dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to
assume, among the Powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which
the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the
opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel
them to the separation.
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that
they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among
these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness. That to secure these
rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from
the consent of the governed, That whenever any Form of Government becomes
destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish
it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles
and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to
effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that
Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient
causes; and accordingly all experience hath shown, that mankind are more
disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by
abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of
abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to
reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to
throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security.
--Such has been the patient sufferance of these Colonies; and such is now the
necessity which constrains them to alter their former Systems of Government. The
history of the present King of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries
and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute
Tyranny over these States. To prove this, let Facts be submitted to a candid
world.
He has refused his Assent to Laws, the most wholesome and necessary for the
public good.
He has forbidden his Governors to pass Laws of immediate and pressing
importance, unless suspended in their operation till his Assent should be
obtained; and when so suspended, he has utterly neglected to attend to them.
He has refused to pass other Laws for the accommodation of large districts of
people, unless those people would relinquish the right of Representation in the
Legislature, a right inestimable to them and formidable to tyrants only.
He has called together legislative bodies at places unusual, uncomfortable, and
distant from the depository of their Public Records, for the sole purpose of
fatiguing them into compliance with his measures.
He has dissolved Representative Houses repeatedly, for opposing with manly
firmness his invasions on the rights of the people.
He has refused for a long time, after such dissolutions, to cause others to be
elected; whereby the Legislative Powers, incapable of Annihilation, have
returned to the People at large for their exercise; the State remaining in the
mean time exposed to all the dangers of invasion from without, and convulsions
within.
He has endeavoured to prevent the population of these States; for that purpose
obstructing the Laws of Naturalization of Foreigners; refusing to pass others to
encourage their migration hither, and raising the conditions of new
Appropriations of Lands.
He has obstructed the Administration of Justice, by refusing his Assent to Laws
for establishing Judiciary Powers.
He has made judges dependent on his Will alone, for the tenure of their offices,
and the amount and payment of their salaries.
He has erected a multitude of New Offices, and sent hither swarms of Officers to
harass our People, and eat out their substance.
He has kept among us, in times of peace, Standing Armies without the Consent of
our legislatures.
He has affected to render the Military independent of and superior to the Civil
Power.
He has combined with others to subject us to a jurisdiction foreign to our
constitution, and unacknowledged by our laws; giving his Assent to their Acts of
pretended legislation:
For quartering large bodies of armed troops among us:
For protecting them, by a mock Trial, from Punishment for any Murders which they
should commit on the Inhabitants of these States:
For cutting off our Trade with all parts of the world:
For imposing taxes on us without our Consent:
For depriving us, in many cases, of the benefits of Trial by Jury:
For transporting us beyond Seas to be tried for pretended offences:
For abolishing the free System of English Laws in a neighbouring Province,
establishing therein an Arbitrary government, and enlarging its Boundaries so as
to render it at once an example and fit instrument for introducing the same
absolute rule into these Colonies:
For taking away our Charters, abolishing our most valuable Laws, and altering
fundamentally the Forms of our Governments:
For suspending our own Legislatures, and declaring themselves invested with
Power to legislate for us in all cases whatsoever.
He has abdicated Government here, by declaring us out of his Protection and
waging War against us.
He has plundered our seas, ravaged our Coasts, burnt our towns, and destroyed
the lives of our people.
He is at this time transporting large armies of foreign mercenaries to compleat
the works of death, desolation and tyranny, already begun with circumstances of
Cruelty & perfidy scarcely paralleled in the most barbarous ages, and
totally unworthy of the Head of a civilized nation.
He has constrained our fellow Citizens taken Captive on the high Seas to bear
Arms against their Country, to become the executioners of their friends and
Brethren, or to fall themselves by their Hands.
He has excited domestic insurrections amongst us, and has endeavoured to bring
on the inhabitants of our frontiers, the merciless Indian Savages, whose known
rule of warfare, is an undistinguished destruction of all ages, sexes and
conditions.
In every stage of these Oppressions We have Petitioned for Redress in the most
humble terms: Our repeated Petitions have been answered only by repeated injury.
A Prince, whose character is thus marked by every act which may define a Tyrant,
is unfit to be the ruler of a free People.
Nor have We been wanting in attention to our British brethren. We have warned
them from time to time of attempts by their legislature to extend an
unwarrantable jurisdiction over us. We have reminded them of the circumstances
of our emigration and settlement here. We have appealed to their native justice
and magnanimity, and we have conjured them by the ties of our common kindred to
disavow these usurpations, which would inevitably interrupt our connections and
correspondence. They too have been deaf to the voice of justice and of
consanguinity. We must, therefore, acquiesce in the necessity, which denounces
our Separation, and hold them, as we hold the rest of mankind, Enemies in War,
in Peace Friends.
We, therefore, the Representatives of the United States of America, in General
Congress, Assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the
rectitude of our intentions, do, in the Name, and by the Authority of the good
People of these Colonies, solemnly publish and declare, That these United
Colonies are, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent States; that they
are Absolved from all Allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political
connection between them and the State of Great Britain, is and ought to be
totally dissolved; and that as Free and Independent States, they have full Power
to levy War, conclude Peace, contract Alliances, establish Commerce, and to do
all other Acts and Things which Independent States may of right do. And for the
support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the Protection of Divine
Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our
sacred Honor.
John Hancock
Button Gwinnett
Lyman hall
Geo Walton
Wm Hooper
Joseph Hewes
John Penn
Edward Rutledge
Thos Heyward, Junr.
Thomas Lynch, Junr.
Arthur Middleton
Samuel Chase
Thos. Stone
George Wythe
Charles Carrol of Carrollton
Richard Henry Lee
Th Jefferson
Benja. Harrison
Thos Nelson, jr.
Francis Lightfoot Lee
Carter Braxton
Robt Morris
Benjamin Rush
Benj. Franklin
John Morton
Geo. Clymer Smith
Geo Taylor
James Wilson
Geo. Ross
Caesar Rodney
Geo. Read
Tho M: Kean
Wm. Floyd
Phil. Livingston
Frans. Lewis
Lewis Morris
Richd. Stockton
Jno.WItherspoon
Fras. Hopkinson
John Hart
Abra. Clark
Josiah Bartlett
Wm. Whipple
Saml. Adams
John Adams
Robt. Treat Paine
Elbridge Gerry
Step. Hopkins
William Ellery
Roger Sherman
Saml Huntington
Wm. Williams
Oliver Wolcott
Matthew Thorton*
Brownies
with a Difference
By Annette Nay
Many parents are working hard to explain to their children and teens why some video
games, music, movies, books, and magazines are not acceptable material for
them to see or bring into their home.
One seeing came up with an original idea that was hard to refute. He listened to
all the reasons his children gave for wanting to see a particular PG-13 movie.
It had their favorite actors. Everyone else was seeing it. Even church members
said it was great. It was only rated PG-13 because of the suggestion of sex.
They never really showed it. The language was pretty good. They only used the
Lord*s name in vain three times in the whole movie. The video effects were
fabulous, and the plot was action-packed. Yes, there was the scene where a
building and a bunch of people got blown up, but the violence was just a normal
stuff. It wasn't very bad.
Even with all these explanations for the rating, the father wouldn't give the
in. he didn't even give them a satisfying explanation for saying,
"no." He just said, "no."
A little later that evening, the same father asked his teens if they would like
some brownies he had prepared. He explained that he it taken the favorite family
recipe and added something new. They asked what was. He calmly replied that he
it had a special ingredient-dog poop.
The stated that there was only a little dog poop in the brownies. All the other
ingredients were gourmet quality. He had taken great care to bake the brownies
at the precise temperature for the exact time. He was sure the brownies would be
superb. Even with all the explanations of the perfect attributes of the
brownies, the teens would not try one.
The father acted surprised. There was only one little element that would have
caused them to act so stubbornly. He assured them that they would hardly notice
the difference, if at all. But they all held firm and would not try the
brownies.
He then explained that the movie they wanted to see was just like the brownies.
Sin enters into our minds and our homes by deceiving us into believing that just
a little bit of evil won't matter. With the brownies, just a little bit makes
all the difference between a great brownie and a totally unacceptable product.
He explained that even though the movie people would have us believe the movies
that are coming out and acceptable for adults and youths to see, they are not.
Now when this father's children want to do something or see something they
should not, their father merely asks them if they would like some of his special
brownies... And they never ask about that activity again.
By Mike Chapman
It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let
yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery. *Galatians 5:1
You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge
the sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love. *Galatians 5:13
This is the time of the year when people across this country will celebrate our
freedom as a nation. Independence Day commemorates the formal adoption of the
Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776, in Philadelphia by the Continental
Congress. Although the signing of the Declaration was not completed until
August, July 4th has been accepted as the official anniversary of US
independence from British rule. Christians have even more to celebrate on this
day. For those men and women who came to America to seek freedom from religious
intolerance in Europe, found it here. July 4th is our freedom to worship God
whenever and wherever. But, as Christians we have a lot of work to do because
our freedoms are slowly being eroded away. If we look in a newspaper or watch
the local news, it does not take long to see that intolerance to religion is
beginning to occur here. No matter what may happen, my spiritual freedom comes
from the Lord. It is the Lord, not government or anything else that has given me
this freedom. Now is the time to share the true freedom of life. There is a
nation of people in chains that only God can set free. Whiteheart, a
contemporary Christian rock group, said it best in the song *Independence Day*,
Hear the myth of modern man
You*re the god of your own land
They call you weak, a spineless fool
Say you*ve given up your right to rule
But I have been to land of me
And I know I was never free
Freedom came when I gave it all away
That*s why I call it Independence Day
Call it Independence Day
Let the rockets blaze across the sky
Raise the flag of faith up high
Let the doubters call it what they may
It*s Independence Day
So join us in the celebration
It is the birth of a holy nation
Amen. Have a great Independence Day everybody!
The
Apostle Paul
*From leading soldiers, to leading millions*
By
SGT John W. Arp
Paul is without a doubt the most interesting man I can think of. Like me, he is
a soldier. Paul is a man of great intestinal fortitude. This is why he inspires
me. Even so, he is also a man of great compassion. I guess you could say he had
to leave himself in order to become something greater in life. What he became,
is one of the greatest leaders ever.
*This is a report on Paul*s Life. I will show my view of how Saul lost himself,
and found himself in Christ. I will show what leadership traits I see in Paul.
Paul*s original name was Saul. Saul is, according to the bible, a gentile. He is
a 1st Century Jew, and a Roman Soldier. As a Greek Orthodox Jew he is a bitter
enemy to Christianity, then became one of its greatest allies.
*Saul is from Tarsus, in Cilicia (now in Turkey). In the time of Saul, Tarsus
was on the Main trade route between East and West. Like many Jews of that time
Saul inherited His Roman citizenship, probably granted by the Romans as a reward
for mercenary services to the Roman Empire in the previous century.
*The story behind Saul*s conversion to Christianity, and his missionary career,
is explained in the book of Acts, in the Bible. The Apostle Luke wrote this many
years after Paul*s death.
*Paul had two names. The name Saul is his Jewish name. The name Paul is his
Roman surname, used when speaking among the Greeks. At some point Saul became a
member of the Pharisees, a Jewish sect that promoted purity and fidelity to the
Law of Moses. Saul regarded the Christian movement as a threat to the Pharisaic
Judaism that he had begun to embrace passionately. He first appears in history
as a persecutor of the New Christian Church.
The most serious persecution of the church begins with converts among the
Hellenists (Greek-speaking Jews) in Jerusalem. One of them, Stephen, is stoned
to death, the murderers *laid down their garments at the feet of a young man
named Saul* (Acts 7:58). Many bible scholars believe that Saul may have been an
officer, this explains his watching over the garments, as an officer would not
join in such things (i.e. they would not get their hands dirty).
It is a belief among Christians, especially bible scholars, that Saul is an
educated and brilliant leader. It is known from the Bible that the Christian
Church fears Saul greatly, because he is unparalleled with the persecution and
killing of Christians.
Saul had a vision one-day on the road to Damascus, while on a manhunt for
Christians with the orders to kill them. He was stricken blind as the result of
his vision, and began the change in his life to Christianity. According to the
Bible he saw a blinding vision of Jesus who asked why he was persecuting the
Christian people. Scholars argue that this may have been due to an inward
conviction caused by Saul*s own guilt. Jesus told Saul that he now would be
known as Paul.
*Paul later went to a man named Annanias, who of course fears Paul greatly, but
reluctantly prays for him, and his sight is restored. Paul began to take on the
transition of a leader within the church. Paul regards himself as the *Chief of
sinners*, for he had persecuted the church so much, even killing many
Christians.
*He is not immediately trusted among the church because of his past. He began to
build that trust as he continued to speak out against the Pharisees and
Gentiles. The Romans had begun to make plans to kill Paul for speaking against
them.
*Paul is forced to spend the earlier part of his missionary career on the run,
dodging Roman soldiers and Heresies that want to kill him. Finally Paul begins
to stand his ground and go into the cities were he could proclaim the good news
of the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the people. He did not receive a warm welcome.
*Paul is imprisoned several times. Among other things, he is shipwrecked,
mobbed, bitten by an asp (a poisonous snake), whipped, scourged and almost
stoned to death on a couple of occasions. Paul came within inches of death on
many occasions. I often think of the Code of Conduct that we as soldiers*
follow, when I consider what Paul went through in his many hardships. Just as we
must pay the price at times for the sake of duty, Paul paid the price for the
sake of his calling and for all Christianity. Few leaders ever show this kind of
commitment for any cause.
Just as we embrace our values as a way of life and the foundation of excellent
leadership, Paul is the ethical standard bearer of his time. He put into motion
a set of values that we as leaders should respect and treasure. They are values
that we know as soldiers, but they are values for life, which were made
effective through the examples that Paul gave us through his great leadership.
*Paul organized the church. He established many small churches and placed the
leaders there personally. These small churches stretched out across the nations,
and continued growing into a massive church united under one purpose only, to
know Christ and to follow in his ways.
*I do not know exactly how many churches Paul organized. I do know that three
fourths of the New Testament Bible consists of letters written by Paul to some
of the churches that he established. I feel it was no mistake that Jesus chose
Paul to organize the church, He was an effective leader with great personal
courage. *
Today Paul is a source of encouragement. His faith and endurance under the
toughest of trials shows his great courage and commitment. His skills in
leadership and organization show his competence. His ability to establish a
moral standard for the church through leading by example shows his candor.
*Paul is a great example of what outstanding leadership is. He established the
beginning of the largest church in the history of the world, carrying on the
works of Christ. And like Paul, it is through living and teaching by example
that makes us great leaders.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
The Holy Bible. King James Version, originally translated in 1611.
*Thomas Nelson Publ., Nashville, 1976
Paul, the Apostle, Saint., 2000
*May 2000<
http://www.ntgateway.com/paul.htm